Apple (AAPL) Files Patent For Wireless Ordering

December 27, 2007 3:38 PM EST

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) is looking to patent a process to allow customers to order a cup of java at a local Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX) through their iPhone or similar to device, which would allow you to avoid waiting in a queue.

Apple's patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describes a process for placing an order and then notifying customers when an order is ready to grab at a pick-up station.

The Apple patent also keeps tabs on where a user shops and what he or she likes to buy. Computers at participating stores would keep track of regular customers and their favorite orders.

Apple applied for 12 patents in December, and was granted eight others, giving investors and Apple fans an idea of where the tight-lipped company could be headed next.

Below is an excerpt from the USPTO.GOV website:

"A processing system is described that includes a wireless communication interface that wirelessly communicates with one or more wireless client devices in the vicinity of an establishment. The wireless communication interface receives a remote order corresponding to an item selected by at least one of the wireless client devices. A local server computer located in proximity to the establishment generates instructions for processing the remote order received from the wireless communication interface. The local server computer then passes the processing instructions to an order processing queue in preparation for processing of the remote order."

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